Graduates of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing are prepared to use the nursing process to provide effective nursing services to individuals receiving care in inpatient settings and in structured outpatient settings. The academic program provides students with a closely related mix of theory and clinical practice; students gain experience in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and community agencies.
The associate, baccalaureate, master's, post-master's certificate nursing programs at University of Alaska Anchorage at the Alaska campuses located in Anchorage, Alaska is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate, baccalaureate, master's, post-master's certificate nursing program is continuing accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/ search-programs.
Licensure and/or Certification
Graduates of the AAS in Nursing must sit for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to practice nursing in structured inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and community agencies.
This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in the State of Alaska. However, the program might not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in other states. Please see UAA’s Licensure and Certification website for more information.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Associate Degrees.
- Review and complete the admission process according to instructions and deadlines on the School of Nursing program website.
- Students will initially be admitted to pre-major status. Admission to pre-major status does not guarantee subsequent admission to the major. As a pre-major, students work with an academic advisor to assist them in completing pre-major requirements and preparing them to apply to the full major.
Special Considerations
Prior to the commencement of the nursing program, students must provide documentation for the following:
- Immunizations: Proof of rubella, rubeola, and mumps vaccination or titer; varicella (chickenpox) vaccination or titer; Hepatitis B titer demonstrating immunity; Hepatitis A titer demonstrating immunity; diphtheria/tetanus vaccine within the past ten years; influenza vaccine within the previous twelve months.
- Freedom from active tuberculosis: Verified annually by a negative PPD skin test or by a health examination conducted by a nurse practitioner, physician, or physician's assistant.
- Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): Required for infants, children, and adults.
- Additional requirements: May include, but are not limited to, drug screening, additional vaccinations, and/or clinical facility-specific requirements.
- Eligibility determination from a national-level criminal background check.
- Professional liability insurance: Specific information regarding acceptable policies can be obtained directly from the program.
- Proof of health insurance: The school assumes no responsibility for illnesses and injuries experienced by students during their clinical experiences; students who are injured while completing clinical assignments are responsible for all associated medical costs.
Furthermore, students enrolled in clinical courses must arrange their own transportation to clinical assignments and will need to purchase uniforms and specialized equipment.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Associate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Associate of Applied Science Degrees.
- Complete the following major requirements with a minimum grade of C in all nursing courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL A111 & A111L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 4 |
| BIOL A112 & A112L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 4 |
| BIOL A240 & A240L | Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory | 4 |
| DN A203 | Nutrition for Health Sciences | 3 |
| NS A230 | Pathophysiology for Health Professions | 3 |
| NURS A120 & A120L | Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Fundamentals Laboratory | 7 |
| NURS A125 & A125L | Adult Nursing I and Adult Nursing I Laboratory | 7 |
| NURS A180 | Basic Nursing Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS A220 & A220L | Perinatal Nursing and Perinatal Nursing Laboratory | 4 |
| NURS A222 & A222L | Child and Family Nursing and Child and Family Nursing Laboratory | 4 |
| NURS A223 & A223L | Concepts of Adult Nursing and Concepts of Adult Nursing Laboratory | 2 |
| NURS A225 & A225L | Adult Nursing II and Adult Nursing II Laboratory | 6 |
| NURS A250 & A250L | Psychiatric Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing Laboratory | 4 |
| NURS A260 | Transition to Professional Nursing | 2 |
| PSY A150 | Lifespan Development | 3 |
| Total | 60 | |
A minimum of 72 credits is required for the degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing will be able to:
- Utilize critical thinking skills to assess and diagnose nursing needs and to prioritize, plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients and their families in institutional and community based settings.
- Effectively communicate verbally, in writing and electronically with health team members, patients and their families.
- Plan, implement and evaluate care that is safe, evidence-based, caring, and developmentally and culturally sensitive within ethical, legal and professional standards.
- Coordinate care of small groups of patients in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
- Develop a plan for lifelong learning and continuing professional development.
Sample Plan
The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.
Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.
- Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
- GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
- Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
- Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
- Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
- Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BIOL A111 & A111L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 4 |
| PSY A150 | Lifespan Development | 3 |
| GER Oral Communication Skills | 3 | |
| GER Quantitative Skills (recommend MATH A105) | 3 | |
| GER Written Communication Skills | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL A112 & A112L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 4 |
| BIOL A240 & A240L | Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory | 4 |
| DN A203 | Nutrition for Health Sciences | 3 |
| GER Written Communication Skills | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS A120 & A120L | Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Fundamentals Laboratory | 7 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS A125 & A125L | Adult Nursing I and Adult Nursing I Laboratory | 7 |
| NURS A180 | Basic Nursing Pharmacology | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS A220 & A220L | Perinatal Nursing and Perinatal Nursing Laboratory | 4 |
| NURS A222 & A222L | Child and Family Nursing and Child and Family Nursing Laboratory | 4 |
| NURS A223 & A223L | Concepts of Adult Nursing and Concepts of Adult Nursing Laboratory | 2 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS A225 & A225L | Adult Nursing II and Adult Nursing II Laboratory | 6 |
| NURS A250 & A250L | Psychiatric Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing Laboratory | 4 |
| NURS A260 | Transition to Professional Nursing | 2 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 69 | |